Shloka 13

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतानि च / नीलोद्वाहेन शुध्येत्तु समुद्रप्लवनेन वा

Transliteration

brahmahatyādipāpāni jñānājñānakṛtāni ca / nīlodvāhena śudhyettu samudraplavanena vā

Translation

Sünden, beginnend mit brahma-hatyā (der Tötung eines Brāhmaṇa), ob wissentlich oder unwissentlich begangen, werden durch das Ritual namens Nīlodvāha gereinigt, oder auch durch das Überqueren des Ozeans.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि-पापानि: sins such as brahmahatyā
• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि-पापानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास/‘brahmahatyā etc.’-determinative)

• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतानि: done knowingly or unknowingly
• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतानि: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP ‘कृत’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (ज्ञान + अज्ञान) ततः तत्पुरुष (‘by knowledge/ignorance done’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नील-उद्वाहेन: by the ‘nīlodvāha’ rite
• नील-उद्वाहेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नीलस्य उद्वाहः)

• शुध्येत्: may be purified
• शुध्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-प्रयोगानुसार ‘may become purified’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• समुद्र-प्लवनेन: by floating/crossing in the ocean
• समुद्र-प्लवनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्लवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (समुद्रे प्लवनम्)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive ‘or’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahāpātaka-kṣaya through specific prāyaścitta; intention (jñāna/ajñāna) is noted yet purification is still prescribed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and śuddhi as preparation for higher dharma/jñāna; ritual expiation restores adhikāra.

Application: When grave transgressions occur, seek qualified guidance for prāyaścitta; undertake sanctioned purification rather than denial or despair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: natural feature / pilgrimage route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa): prāyaścitta discussions for mahāpātakas; tīrtha-mahātmyas connected to śuddhi; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-vidhi sections that require śuddha-kartṛ for efficacy

Characters & Entities

• Brahmahatya (sin of killing a Brahmin)
• Samudra (ocean)

FAQs

What is the importance of prayaschitta (expiation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that even grave sins—done knowingly or unknowingly—are addressed through specific purificatory disciplines, emphasizing dharmic accountability and restoration of spiritual purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta Kanda setting, purification of sins is presented as crucial for reducing karmic burden, which directly affects the post-death journey and experiences governed by moral causality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ethical vigilance (since even unintentional harm has karmic weight) and adopt sincere corrective practices—repentance, restraint, charity, and guidance from qualified tradition—aimed at purification and harm-reduction.